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jayshao · Mar 1, 2003, 11:33 PM

I'm just posting this crazy thought for discussion and to see if anyone knows the feasibility...

The gamecube runs on a modified PowerPC G3. Is there any reason Apple couldn't port OSX and say appleworks to the Gamecube? Bundle it with Appleworks, Safari, and a wireless keyboard/trackpad like the top of an iBook?

If priced low, I could see it selling well as a "add a computer for junior to do his reports on" kit. Say... $100 for the whole package.

Also, take this stripped down version of OSX and license it to other game makers. I'd imagie that developers of more complicated strategy/games, especially those where you'd really like your users to have a keyboard would jump on. Especially if they got OSX (and some promotions support from Apple) for free.

The one concern I'd have would be the RAM. Does anyone know if you stripped out all the items a gamecube wouldn't support, if it could handls it?

mac freak · Mar 2, 2003, 12:15 AM

Well, the GCN has 24MB T1-SRAM, which is really fast (but there's not much of it), plus an additional 16MB slower RAM...
Seeing as OS X requires 128 (? I think), it would be quite impressive if Apple got it to run on the GC.

Of course, if they could, the GC DOES have a beefy GPU that could make for some pretty Aqua... And I believe the G3 derivative runs at 485 MHz, so that would certainly not be a problem.

I wouldn't buy it, but it would be cool.

jayshao · Mar 2, 2003, 01:26 AM

I guess what I'm wondering is... how much can you strip out? If you know the hardware is unlikely to support it for instance. Can you save RAM footprint by disabling apache? samba? shell access? login? faxing?

Maybe you could requre the harddisk attachment (I think Nintendo has one) so that you can swap to disk (probably heavily) Would it be workable?

I think I'm really looking in mind at PS3 (whenever it ships) since it's supposed to have a POWER derived processor. Also considering about 10X as many get shipped a year, and they have top notch, first run games (a perennial complaint) It seems like it might work. PS3 will prob even support standard USB, Firewire, etc.

beb · Mar 9, 2003, 03:39 PM

I kinda wonder if Sony would like to purchase Apple to put OS X on the Playstation 3.

-Nah...

mac freak · Mar 9, 2003, 06:41 PM

There have been rumors of Sony looking into buying Apple...
I wouldn't put much stock in 'em, though.

TheMosco · Mar 9, 2003, 08:29 PM

Actually, there was an interview posted on the front page of Macnn a little while ago that was an interview with the CEO of sony about buying Palm, and at the end of the article he said he would like to buy apple also.

ambush · Mar 9, 2003, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by jayshao:
I guess what I'm wondering is... how much can you strip out? If you know the hardware is unlikely to support it for instance. Can you save RAM footprint by disabling apache? samba? shell access? login? faxing?

Maybe you could requre the harddisk attachment (I think Nintendo has one) so that you can swap to disk (probably heavily) Would it be workable?

I think I'm really looking in mind at PS3 (whenever it ships) since it's supposed to have a POWER derived processor. Also considering about 10X as many get shipped a year, and they have top notch, first run games (a perennial complaint) It seems like it might work. PS3 will prob even support standard USB, Firewire, etc.

I guess you'd have to directly modify the Finder's code- and all the processes running in the background.

Also, is there a HD in the GC? what size? What file system? etc etc.

You'd also have to optimize the code to take an optimal adv. of the GPU.

I'm pretty sure it'd require another osx version.

beb · Mar 10, 2003, 12:34 PM

However, a Playstation 3 running some version of OS X would kick ass.

bousozoku · Mar 19, 2003, 02:11 PM

If Sony is still using MIPS processors, it wouldn't be that difficult to get SGI's Irix to run on PS2.

Wet Jimmy · Mar 19, 2003, 09:50 PM

There's no HD on the Purse, so unless you can strip down OSX enough to fit on a memory card....

Better off porting it to the Xbox!

nsxpower · Mar 20, 2003, 06:30 AM

I have seen some Japanese retailers selling HD that you can hook up to your PS2 and there is a version of Linux that you can get running on PS2 as well.

It can be done, provided you have the money and time to devote to it. However, one must wonder as to why anyone would actually bother? There is a geek 'coolness' factor to it, of course. But can someone thing of anything usefull to do with it?

Wet Jimmy · Mar 20, 2003, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by nsxpower:
But can someone thing of anything usefull to do with it?

Sure. Home Theater PC. I run all my Divx's and SVCD's straight from the HD of my Xbox - no need to burn them onto CD, just FTP them across and away you go. I also use it as an MP3 player for the lounge room. It can stream video and MP3's straight from my PC and has a groovy interface to boot.

Or, buy an Xbox, mod it, stick linux on it, repeat - super cheap PC that you can cluster `til your heart's content.

Oh, and you can play games on it, too

So, I can't speak for the POS2 or the Purse, but a modded Xbox is a whole big world of fun!

mac freak · Mar 23, 2003, 12:09 PM

There's no HD on the Purse, so unless you can strip down OSX enough to fit on a memory card....

Better off porting it to the Xbox!

*cough*1.5GBDVDs*cough*

And why call it the purse? So derogatory!

We're on an Apple forum here... no supporting the Xbox allowed!

ryju · Mar 23, 2003, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by mac freak:
Well, the GCN has 24MB T1-SRAM, which is really fast (but there's not much of it), plus an additional 16MB slower RAM...
Seeing as OS X requires 128 (? I think), it would be quite impressive if Apple got it to run on the GC.

Of course, if they could, the GC DOES have a beefy GPU that could make for some pretty Aqua... And I believe the G3 derivative runs at 485 MHz, so that would certainly not be a problem.

I wouldn't buy it, but it would be cool.

I've run OS X on 64mb RAM. But I've never tried anything lower.